Milledgeville man arrested on chase, drug charges

Published 11:59 am Thursday, July 3, 2025

GREENSBORO, Ga. — A Milledgeville man was arrested June 21 in Greene County on charges involving a vehicle chase and illegal drug possession, authorities say.

The suspect was identified as Stephen Mariani, 18, of the 100 block of Riverwood Drive, according to an incident report filed by Greene County Sheriff’s Office Deputy D. Skillman.

Mariani was arrested on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, failure to maintain lane, driving without a valid license and operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration.

After his arrest, he was taken to the Greene County Law Enforcement Center in Greensboro where he was jailed.

Skillman said he was patrolling in the area along state Route 44 near the Putnam County line when he spotted the driver of a 2020 Chevrolet Camaro failing to maintain a single lane.

“I visually observed the vehicle traveling over the center line before activating my emergency lights,” Skillman said in his report.

The deputy said he later learned that the car had a suspended registration.

Skillman said he turned on his blue lights near the intersection of Ga. Route 44 and Merchant Street.

The driver of the car, later identified as Mariani, turned right onto Linger Longer Road.

“The vehicle continued on without stopping,” Skillman said. “I then activated my siren in an attempt to get the (driver of the) vehicle to pull over.”

The deputy noticed that the car’s left rear tire had blown out.

Nevertheless, the driver continued on Linger Longer Road and failed to maintain a single lane several times, according to the deputy.

The car continued at a speed of about 45 mph, according to the deputy’s report.

The driver turned left onto Lake Oconee Trail when the deputy noticed that the blown left rear tire was starting to come apart from the rim.

The car stopped just short of the security checkpoint at Reynolds Lake Oconee.

“I exited my patrol vehicle with my service weapon drawn and began giving verbal commands to shut the vehicle off,” Skillman said. “Mariani complied.”

The suspect said he was attempting to drive the car to his girlfriend at The Ritz-Carlton.

During an inventory of the items in the car, Skillman said he and Deputy Corwin found a small wallet in the backseat. Inside the wallet, they discovered a small baggie with bubble wrap inside. The baggie contained five round white-colored pills with no markings on them.

The pills were later tested and came back as methamphetamine, as well as MDMA, a Schedule II controlled substance.